From
The Drawing Room Antiques
of Newport Rhode Island
# 5602. A pair of American Portraits on panel. The gentleman portrait is of Henry Harris Tuckerman. Born 28 Sept. 1783 in Boston Mass and died 10 Dec. 1860 in Cambridge Mass. He was the son of Edward Francis Tuckerman and Elizabeth Harris. The companion portrait of the lady is his wife Ruth Lyman Keating who was born about 1787-88 and died Sept. 7 1823 in Boston. Ruth and Henry had 5 children: Henry Theodore, Elizabeth, Lucy Keating and Charles Keating. Charles K. was the first Minister to Greece (1868-1872) and was born March 11, 1821 and died Feb. 28, 1986 in Florence Italy. On the reverse of the gentleman's portrait in pencil: "Portrait of Henry H. Tuckerman . . . " with a printed label on the back side: "Henry Theodore Tuckerman" (we presume that the sons name on the back of this portrait indicates ownership not subject identification) Sold with the companion portrait of his wife. Size: Frame is 28" x 33.5" and the board is 21.5" x 27". Condition: paint loss to both portraits. The frames were gilt originally and we probably painted with gold paint "to freshen them up"! Circa 1820-30. Inquiries.
A little more about The Tuckerman Family
Henry Tuckerman born in 1813 was the father of Charles K. Tuckerman, Minister to Greece and Henry T.Tuckerman a famous author. Both boys attended the Boston Latin School from which they graduated. Henry in his youth traveled much and became a very celebrated author. Among his works the "Italian Sketch book", 1841. "Thoughts on the Poets", 1846. "Sketches of an American Artist" and "America and Her Commentators." Henry was a bachelor and very popular with lists of friends in New York and Newport. He was well known for his ability to quell quarrels and settle disputes and so was consulted by all of his friends. On the serious side of his character he was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, received honorary degree of art from Harvard College. He was a great friend of Washington Irving and often stayed at Sunnyside with other celebrities. Washington Irving was also a friend of a Viele ancestor, Herman Knickerbocker Viele.
Charles K. Tuckerman (the younger) brother of Henry was born in Boston March 11, 1821. He married in 1858 Mary Fleming daughter of William and Cornelia Fleming Gracie. Before his marriage he had busyness connections in China and lived there several years. He was made Minister to Greece in 1868. He took his young wife and 2 small boys to Greece with him and remained till 1872. They were very cordially treated by the Greek Royal Family. King George a brother of Queen Alexandra and of the Empress Marie of Russia and been chosen as King of the Greeks. His wife Queen Olga was a Russian Princess and became a great friend of Mary Gracie Tuckerman. The Greek Court was very gay in these days as the King and Queen were young people and balls and dinner parties were taking place nightly. King George, gave the Tuckermans a magnificent dinner service of china made in Copenhagen, his native land. It is marked "G" and "O" on every piece and is stored in 9 barrels. The Queen presented to Mary Tuckerman a bracelet; wide gold band with one ruby and one diamond and the engraved words inside. Charles Tuckerman was given the decoration of the Order of the Savior on leaving Greece. He afterwards lived in London and on the Avenue Kleber in Paris but finally settled in Florence. He and his wife are buried in the Allori Cemetery outside of Florence. Charles Tuckerman had 2 sons: Fleming and Arthur in Florence
The Drawing Room is located at 152-154 Spring Street, Newport, Rhode Island 02840. We are open daily from 11 am to 5 P.M. and by appointment. If you have an interest in an item listed in this document or wish to purchase an item, please call us at 1-401-841-5060. We have been located in Newport since 1985.Email us at:drawrm@hotmail.com
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